Attaching plate for springs



may 5, 1925. 1,536,418

C. C. BREAKFIELD ATTACHING PLATE FOR SPRINGS Filed Jari. 4 1924 INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED vSTATES 1,536,418 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BREAKFIELD, OF ALLECNSVTLLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 i J B. BOYD, OF ALLENSVILLE, KllhT'IUCKY.`

ATTACI-IING PLATE FOR SPRINGS.

Application filed January 4, '1924. Serial No. 684,388.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. Brumm riem), a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Allensville, in the county of Todd and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .attaching Plates for Springs, of which the following is aspecication.

This invention relates to attaching plates therein.

A further object is to provide an attaching plate having means to force the intermediate portion of the semi-elliptical spring well up into the channeled cross member so that the spring and the channeled cross member are securely and positively connected whereby the possibility of breakage is' `reduced to a minimum.

Another important aim of the invention is to provide an attaching plate of the character specified adapted to positively hold the spring against excessive lateral movement with relation to the cross member so that the strain on the spring perches and associated elements is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide an attaching plate which may be applied without elaborately altering the construction of the vehicle and without the exercise of unusual skill.

A further obj ect is to provide an attaching plate of the character specified which is of highly specified construction, durable in use and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will heapparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to' designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved attaching plate applied;

Figure Q is a bottom plan view of the plate applied to the spring and the channeled cross member;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view. taken on line 4-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a perspective of the improved i attaching plate.

ln the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred e1nbodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 desig nates a longitudinally curved channeled cross member forming a part of the standard construction of' a Ford` automobile and connected at its ends to the side lmembers of the vehicleframe.

Figure l illustrates that the semi-elliptical cross spring 6 is partially received in the channeled cross member 5 and is connected at its ends to perehes 77 all of which is Vold and well known.

The improved attachingand strengthening plate is designated generally by the numeral l0 and is secured beneath the spring 6 by means of U-shaped hangers or bolts 11 having nuts l2 to secure the plate in place. Figure 1 illustrates that the bolts 11 are eX- tended through laterally projecting ears 14 at the ends of the plate, and the upper side of the plate is provided with a longitudinally extending raised portion or shoulder 16 capable of being received in the channeled cross member 5. Therefore, when the nut-s l2 are tightened the raised portion 16 forces the intermediate portion of the spring 6 well up into the channeled cross member 5. This provides an extremely rigid connection between the spring 6 and the cross member 5 and also takes up slack.

The connection between the cross member 5 and the spring 6 is further strengthened by means of a U-bolt 20. the back portion of which is spread to form a support for a bearing 22 which receives the hand crank. The terminal portions of the bolt 20 are provided with nuts 25 extending through certain of the ears 14.

With reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that the elongated plate l0 and the fastening devices therefor effectively protect the spring, the cross member and the perches from breakage. Attention is especially directed to the. fart that the invention forming the subjectmatter of this application prevents the spring from rocking and the strain on the los Jill

perc'l's' iisltliereby reduced 'to afmprnum andthe 'Wear I`on lthese parts isalso' limited.

The presence of the shoulder or raised .portion laddgreatly to the value of the plate since it enables-fthe.springto vbef-held Well Within the cross member 5 and this prevents rattlingand loosenes's` at thisfpoint.

It might be stated that the `principal strain on the springistransmittedtothe intermediate portion ofthe spring and this vportion is vprovided VWith alined apertures for the 'reception ofthe llfastening ybolt 30 by means ofiwhich the several leaves are connected.. Figure tillust'ratesj that anut' 31 is lthreadedon the bolt'() 'and is 'received in an o eninof 33 in the attachin'" late'. This P e .e P

-inaj'or strain on'thefspring at' the weakened central/portion of 4thev'same is successfully met bythe elongated'platewhich extends a v'substantial 'distance beyond the apertures in the severalk leaves.

The invention forming 'the subject-matter of" this application prevents both the 'cross' memberv and the"spring"GV from breakage Aand the improved,jplate 'may 'be 'quickly and4 conveniently applied' Without elaborately altering the construction ofthe vehicle.

Also the attaching'plateisj capable of use inl connection with bugg Y fs'plringstand other vehicle nspring'gs although. it` islespfecially adapted Yfor use inv theV manner. illustrated.

yIt Will be seen that the attachingl plate Vfrming'g ythe subject v`of lthis .application prevents excessive vro`ckiv'nf'g, off the 'vehicle' and iprevents the' fenders from" coming in Contact 4With the tires rapidly vWearing the tires and' also gettin'gtheA fenders out 'of shape.

'lso the invention forming @the subject lmatter 'of this application "maintains the curvature of the spring and prevents the same from straightening out and settling. Bythus preserving the arch of the spring the flexibility of the same is also preserved and` the ybody is prevented from settling.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isz The combination with akchanneled cross member of anautomobil'e frame 'of an attaching member for securing al leaf spring vend 'portions 'of' the body Iand extending beyond the Vouter/sides of 'the channeled cross member, and fastening devices extending through's'aid ears at` the. intermediate and A`end portionsof the body for firmlyfhol'ding the raised ,portion ofthe body in thecha'n nele'd cross member, thecoi'i'vexupper surface of 'the body extending for the 'full length of the body vand being entirely unbroken except fora'sing'le centrallylocz'it'ed 'opening 'extending through the-body andv opening out through'the upper surface 'of rthe 'raised portion.

CHARBES G. BREAKFIElJDL 

